At a reception held at Denver’s historic Crawford Hill Mansion, the Level One Society, headed by Marti Awad, announced the start of its Pavilion Project, a drive to raise $350,000 to be put toward the construction of the Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Unit scheduled to open next summer in Denver Health’s Pavilion M.

The Level One Society is made up of young professionals and community leaders committed to supporting Denver Health. Its mission is to raise awareness and develop resources through outreach, advocacy and expansion of the donor base. One of the ways in which this is done is A Toast to Denver Health, a series of get-togethers such as this one chaired by Jenny Pruett, Jamie Van Leeuwen, Yvette Pita Frampton and Auna Jornayvaz.

Some 200 new and continuing friends of Denver Health were there to enjoy food, music and remarks such as those delivered by Kathy Klugman, who shared the very personal story of her late son Terry’s struggle with bipolar disease. Klugman also touched on the crucial need for providing mental health services to children and the importance of overcoming the stigma associated with mental illness.

A poignant video tribute to Terry was shown, and community leader Caz Matthews read a statement from Mayor John Hickenlooper, who had been friends with Terry. Dr. Vincent Collins of Denver Health and Colorado first lady Jeannie Ritter also spoke about the unique needs facing children who suffer from mental illness and the importance of having access to facilities and resources that provide appropriate and necessary treatment.

Michelle Rose-Hughes and Franklin Rios are chairing the Pavilion Project, and they report that A Toast to Denver Health raised $33,000 for the Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Unit. They also thanked sponsors and others who helped make the evening possible, including attorney Pamela Mackey of Haddon, Morgan & Foreman, Mike Ferrufino of KBNO and Marc Spritzer and Nick Lane from CoBiz.

The Pavilion Project, they noted, “Will help Denver Health deliver the most effective and advanced therapeutic programs available for young people in need of mental health services, incorporating music, art, outdoor recreation, life-skills training and a classroom with the latest teaching tools.

“Mental health issues,” the co-chairs added, “affect one in every five young people. An estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need. Budgetary issues have eliminated many critical resources for mental health treatment and now Denver Health is the only in-patient facility in Denver to care for children who are struggling to regain mental health. Access to appropriate and proven treatments is critical to helping kids gain the resilience and self-confidence they need to return to their families and schools, and ultimately lead productive, healthy lives.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about the Pavilion Project, or wanting to make a donation, may contact Karen Kennedy at 303-602-2972 or visit pavilionproject.org.

Study after study has shown that when it comes to charitable fundraisers, Denver has more per capita than any comparably sized city in the nation. Joanne Davidson has been covering them for The Denver Post since 1985, coming here from her native California where she'd spent the previous seven years as San Francisco bureau chief for U.S. News & World Report magazine.